Seasonal Safety

Home heating comes from a multitude of sources. Often times residents will supplement their main heating system with alternative heat sources such as fireplaces, wood stoves, and portable fuel or electric heaters.

Safety Tips

Have a heating contractor perform a yearly maintenance check-up of your furnace and ventilation system to ensure efficient, safe operation.

Be sure all furnace controls and emergency shut-offs are in proper working order.

Never leave a heater on when you are not in the room or when you go to sleep.

Never leave children or pets unattended near heating sources.

Only use heaters that have been tested to the latest safety standards and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These heaters will have the most up-to-date safety features like automatic shut-offs.

Only install and use heaters according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Fireplaces & Fireplace Ashes

Ensure that your chimney is cleaned and inspected once a year.

A spark arrestor across the top of a chimney will prevent sparks from igniting your roof.

Use the proper fuel (seasoned hardwood, pellets, and gas/propane) for your type of system.

Never use gasoline, kerosene, or other flammable liquids to start a fire.

Fireplaces should have a sturdy screen across the front to prevent embers from flying or logs from rolling out.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. Many "non-masonry" fireplace/chimney units have limitations on the amount of heat they can safely withstand.

Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.

When clearing ashes from the fireplace, be sure to put them into a metal container with a lid. Do not discard your ashes into any combustible container such as a paper or plastic bag, a cardboard box, or a plastic trash can.

Keep your can outside the home, away from your fireplace or stove. Do not place ash containers on decks, porches, or in garages.

Pour water into ash containers to make sure the ashes are cool.

Teach all family members to be safe with ashes from your fireplace or wood-burning stove.